Oyo Police Rescues Two Abducted Minors, Arrest 11 Suspects Over Kidnapping, Murder
•By OYENIYI KAZEEM
IBADAN – THE Oyo State Police Command has rescued two minors who were abducted by suspected gunmen in Orire Local Government Area of the state and arrested four suspects in connection with the crime.
The command also confirmed the arrest of seven suspects over the alleged murder of a 20-year-old man in Atisbo Local Government Area.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday, noting that the operations were carried out through intelligence-led policing and swift response by officers.
According to the statement, the minors, Hadu Abubakar, 15, and Sadari Abubakar, 14, both of Akinsapon Village near Ayetoro-Ile, were abducted on Friday, January 9, 2026.
“The incident was reported at about 9am through the Iwere-Ile Division. Acting immediately, the Divisional Police Officer mobilised a joint security team, which successfully rescued the victims and arrested four suspects,” the statement read.
The suspects were identified as Abubakar Abubakar (25) of Akinsapon Village; Usman Mohammed (23) from Lafayin, Bida, Niger State; Sanda Legi (21) from Kwara State; and Dore Hado (22).
The police said two of the suspects sustained injuries during the operation and were currently receiving treatment under police guard, while the other two were in custody.
Items recovered from the suspects included two cutlasses, one sander stick, and ₦15,700.
The police added that the suspects had confessed to the crime and were cooperating with investigators, adding that the Commissioner of Police, CP Femi Haruna, had ordered their transfer to the State Anti-Kidnapping Squad for further investigation.
In a related development, the command also announced the arrest of seven suspects in connection with the murder of a young man in Ofiki Village, Atisbo Local Government Area.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the victim, Seidu Amisu, 20, had an altercation with Umaru Saidu (40) and Umaru Gambo (37) at the Budo Fatti area of the community over issues relating to cattle rearing.
“The disagreement escalated into a physical confrontation, during which Umaru Gambo allegedly beat the victim to death with a stick,” the police said.
The command alleged that after realising the victim had died, the two suspects enlisted the help of Umar Abubakar, Usman Seidu, Muhammed Aliu, and Musa Abubakar to secretly bury the corpse in an attempt to conceal the crime.
Following credible intelligence, operatives of the Ago-Are Division arrested all seven suspects, who allegedly confessed to the crime.
DSP Olayinka said the Commissioner of Police had ordered the transfer of the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Homicide Section, for further investigation.
The command reiterated its zero tolerance for criminal activities and assured residents of its commitment to protecting lives and property across the state.
“All suspects will be charged to court upon the completion of investigation,” the statement added.